Topic: Oversized Brandy Glasses/Balloon Vases

[catshome]

Hi All,

Has anybody come across any detailed information on these large glass vases, anywhere at all?  The history of them, or who the main makers were, or even what country started making them (and I have to ask why?!).

I remember seeing them in the 60s with Beswick cats and mice in and on them, but I don't know if they started before that or how they came to be made.

There are so many around down here at the moment that I have bought 2 this week already and seen about 20 in varying sizes.  None seem to be marked and the only real differences seem to be coloured or clear stem, straight or twisted stem, clear or cased bowl.

There is a very great risk of my little flat turning into a home for abandoned and unwanted balloon vases.............so it would be quite nice to know a bit more about them!

Thank you
Cat

[Pat]

I think they came from everywhere! I thought they were all italian until I got one with a swedish import label.

[bidda]

Cat,
I'm hoping that you can uncover some information with your querry here. I have one such vase and was told by a member of another forum that she was certain it was made by Westmoreland. However, I wrote to the Old Westmoreland Glass Works Guild with photos and they were equally certain that it wasn't.  :?
Mine has a rib/dot optic pattern, is approx. 29 cm tall, has a "dimple" pontil and no maker marks. Here are a couple images in case anyone might recognize either the shape or pattern because I'm having a dickens of a time finding any solid information.
http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/redcom1.jpg
http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/redcom2.jpg

Thanks for looking,

Bidda

[catshome]

Hi Bidda,

That's a beautiful piece.  I have something similar in blue with a diamond pattern that makes it resemble a thistle - I'll try and add a pic later today.  I think those will be easier to attribute than the plain large bowled vases that I'm curious about.  It might help with your one if you could add a picture of its bottom  :oops: !

Good luck
Cat

[bidda]

Ha ha! Will do that this afternoon, after I'm through packing and posting my lastest sales.

Best,

Bidda

Hi Bidda,

That's a beautiful piece.  I have something similar in blue with a diamond pattern that makes it resemble a thistle - I'll try and add a pic later today.  I think those will be easier to attribute than the plain large bowled vases that I'm curious about.  It might help with your one if you could add a picture of its bottom  :oops: !

Good luck
Cat

[bidda]

okie dokie, here are a few more pictures of this "brandy vase", including the bottom which shows the pontil as little more than a glare... hope they're helpful in the search for an ID

http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/redcom3.jpg
http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/redcom4.jpg
http://www.schellers.org/ebay_images/redcom5.jpg

Thanks,
Bidda

[Ivo]

I vote for Empoli...

[bidda]

Ivo, searched for Empoli throughout the threads here and found a link that you recommended to another glassy http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,5131.0.html but, it didn't work for me Then I tried just going to http://glassoholic.yobunny.org.uk/ and searching for Empoli from there but there were 0 hits. Any idea on where else I might find more info?

Thanks,
Bidda

[Anne]

Hi Bidda, the links library moved to http://glasslinks.yobunny.org.uk/  so the page you want for Empoli is http://glasslinks.yobunny.org.uk/articles.php?lng=en&pg=66

[bidda]

Thanks, Anne... if only I could competently read italian There was one site that featured a similar stem, though, (consorzio) I've been told it's "classical" and found by many firms. I always appreciate a venue for more information, though

Bidda